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PhysicsFornicator t1_iy4o25b wrote

Reply to comment by GameofFame in Depictions of atomic nuclei often show distinct and individual protons and neutrons, is this accurate? by ZTYTHYZ

There was an article I highlighted at our physics journal club from way back in my undergrad days that showed that despite neutrons being net neutral, the charges of the quarks that compose the particle create a volumetric charge distribution at the quantum level. The field of quantum chromodynamics goes into a lot of depth on this stuff.

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PermanentRoundFile t1_iy77njf wrote

So for the lay folks out here, you're saying that neutrons still have polarity despite their overall charge being neutral?

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TerpenesByMS t1_iy78lzf wrote

Neutrons have a magnetic dipole I.E. are a tiny magnet with a north and south, despite being electrically neutral. Electrons and protons also have a magnetic dipole - which is more commonly called spin.

Edit: clarity

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